Firearm cartridge magazine



March 3, 1959 R. R. KRIEGER 2,875,544'

FIREARM CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE:

Filed Jan. 5. 1955 IN V EN TOR.

' ROBERT R. AVP/65@ United States Patent F 2,875,544 FnzEARM yCARTRIDGE MAGAZINE Robert R. Krieger, Mount Clemens, Mich.

Application January 3, 1955, Serial No. 479,332 7 claims. (ci. iz-1s) This invention relates to firearms and particularly to a removable magazine assembly for ries or the like.

Many makes of rifles today, particularly sporting rifles, are constructed with a built-in or permanent magazine. Such magazine comprises a magazine well which is built into the trigger guard assembly/and is disposed directly below the receiver of the gun such that the topmost cartridge in the magazine is picked up by the bolt during its forward movement and carried into the chamber. The bottom of the well is closed by a floor plate with a cartridge spring follower secured to the plate. To load such magazines requires the retraction of the bolt, followed by the insertion of the cartridges down through the receiver and into the magazine. vious that the gun is incapable of being fired during this interval and that it would be desirable to be able to load the gun without disturbing the bolt, and in a 'shorter' length of time than is possible in the above described arrangement. If a live cartridge remains in the chamber and it is desired to load the magazine, it is necessary to retract the bolt with the consequent ejection ofthe live cartridge.

' -f An object' of this invention is the provision of a removable magazine which is adapted to replace the builtin magazineV of the gunand which may be removed from the gun or replaced therein without disturbing the bolt` or a cartridge in the chamber thereby facilitating` the replenishment of an exhausted supply of cartridges in a Ymuch shorter time than is at present possible withk theconventional construction above described. A

Another object of the invention is the provision of a removable magazine adapted to tit manyV diiferent makes of guns and which is received within the magazine well of the 'gun as a unit, the cartridge follower spring, car-`v tridge follower, and floor plate being first removed.

A meritorious feature of the' invention is the provision of a releasable magazine retaining catch adapted tov hold the magazine in the gun and which catch is adjust able so that it will fit many different makes of guns and serve equallyrwell with each to accomplish its intended` function. l

Another meritorious feature of the invention isfthe provision of springV means biasing the removable magazine outwardly of the gun such that when Vthe magazine retaining catch is unlatched, the magazine will be urged out of the gun to a position where it may be easily 're-V moved by the operator. v

YAn advantage of the invention resides in its functionl of enabling the operator of the gun to quickly replenish an exhausted supply of cartridges by removing an empty magazine Y and immediately replacing it with a fully,

loaded magazine.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features will more fully appear from the specification, claims, and

accompanying drawing, wherein:

"2,875,544 Patented Mar. 3, 1959 Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the removable magazine taken just above kthe floor plate thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross'sectional view through the rear wall of the magazine well showing the latch disposed therein;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the` line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

My magazine assembly is adapted for use with many different makes and models of ries or the like. In, the drawing it is shown, for illustrative purposes only, in conjunction with a conventional rifle such as a modified Springfield model 1903. The rifle has a guard secured to the stock 12 at the forward end by a screw 14 passing through a boss 16 mounted upon the forward tang 18 of the guard. The guard has a trigger bowZtl,

" forward of which is the magazine well having front and the bottom -by a lioor plate with a magazine spring mounted upon the oor plate and supporting a cartridge follower. The floor plate is conventionally held in place by a tenon which fits into the slot 36 inthe front wall of the magazine well. The rear of the plate is held to the guard by a catch. To load the magazine well the cartridges are pressed down through the receiver 28 into the Well, the bolt being retracted. rather slow operation. g p

In Fig. 1 my improved magazine assembly is shown as mounted in the guard 10 of the firearm. The conventional floor plate, cartridge follower spring, cartridge follower, and floor plate latching means have been removed from the guard. My assembly comprises the magazine proper 34 and the latching device 36. VThe magazine includes a box-like receptacle assembly havtacle with the periphery of the plate extending beyond thewalls ofthe receptacle as at 43, to abut the guard as shown in Figs. 1 and-4.

"Disposed-inside the receptacle is Va magazine spring 44 and a cartridge follower 45. The spring and follower are adapted to'urge'cartridges in the magazine upwardly against the converging 'lips 42. Themagazinewill hold a plurality of superposed cartridges, with the vtopmost' cartridge'in a position to be picked up by the 'bolt duringJ its lforward movement and carried into the chamber.

lThe magazine also includes a kick-out spring 46, which is secured to the oor plate as at 47. The spring isgenerally V-shaped in configuration.l The ends of the spring extend Athrough apertures, 48 in the lower end of the rear wall 39 of the receptacle asY shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4.'Y The floor plate is channeled as at 49 and 50 such that the ends of the kick-out spring will be depressedv into the channels by the guard when the magazine is inserted into the magazine well as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.' Without these channels or grooves, the floor plate would'be spaced down from the guard by the thickness of the spring when the magazine is inserted in the well.

The kick-out spring is tensioned upwardly away from the 'oor plate and biases the magazine outwardly, or downwardly, of the guard when the receptacle is disposed in place in the magazine well. The ends of the kick-out spring abut the lower edge ofthe guard as shownin Figs. 1 `and 4. When the magazine is unlatched from the guard, the spring moves the magazine outwardlyof l.

Such loading isA a" the well' a distance such that the operator may grasp the magazine and extract it completely from the guard.

The magazine is adapted tothe used with many different makes of rifles, the dimensionsA of the magazine wells of which vary somewhat, particularly the dimension between the front and rear` walls, such as front` and rear walls 22 and 24 in the drawings. ln order to` adapt the magazine to these different sized wells itis necessary to provide some means for adjusting the magazine .to fit the wellso that the magazine will not shift forwardly or rearwardly in the well. In order to prevent` such shiftable `movement of themagazine I have provided a novel4 adjustment element shown at 50, in the drawings.

The adjustment element comprises a cam member` 52 mounted on the floor plate rearwardly ofthe rear wall` 39 ofthe receptacle. It will be noted that the iloor plate extends beyond the rear wall 39.01F` the receptacle such that the cam may be mounted on the oor plate spaced from the wall 39. Such portion of the oor plate ex-V tending rearwardly of the wall` 39 of the receptacle is shown in Fig. 2 and indicated at 53. The cam 52 is held in place by a rivet or the like which is provided with a threaded stem 78. The stem is provided with a shoulder 80 adapted to bear against mthe top wall 82 of the upof the stem is provided-witha screw driver slot 87.

j. leaf.

slotted head 56 overlying the bottom'surface of the floor l f; l

the magazine 1s` inserted 1n the guard, the `forward `edge plate, and a stem portion 58 which extendsthrough the floor plate and is secured` to the cam. The cam and` rivet are fastened together in such manner that the floor` plateis gripped between the head 56 and the cam 52.

or like tool. ping engagement of the iloor plate'between the cam and the head of the rivet with the result that the cam will` re` main in the position to which it isirotated.

The cam is provided with a bearing face 60. As` their oor platelatch means.

zine forwardly in the guard such that the wall 38 of the receptacle` abuts the wall 22 of the magazinewell.A j In order to adjust the cam, theK magazine is inserted in.

the guard with the receptacle disposed in the well. By use of a screwdriver the cam isrotated to urge `the maga- The upstanding leg of the L-shaped recess is indicated `at, 64.` This recess is conventional and normally houses the The bearing face or. camming surface ofthe cam 52 is adapted to bear against the rear` wall 63 of the portion 62'` of the recess and urgethe maga-` zine to.` its `forwardmost position in the guard.` .l In` such position the front wallf38of.the receptacle willb'ear against the front wall 22er the magazine well. Thereafterthe magazine may 4beremovedgfrom the guard and.

the cam will be;in a position such:thatlwhenthemagazine is later replacedrinl the'guardgitwill assumeyafgposition which is the same as that tojwhich it has been adjustably"f u moved duringits initial positioning in the guard., The.

cam will" thereafter need no further adjustment.

Mynovel latch means 36 in combination with theadjustable element 50Y securely,` holdsthe magazine in-` theA guard with the receptacle rmlyor snugly positioned.;

in the well. The latch is adjustable, as hereinafterrexi plained, so that it-will fit dilerentmalresv of'rifles..; The? distance between the surface` 66: andthelowertsurface 68:

of the guard .varies vslightly among the differentmakes of" rifles, and the latch accommodates theseq-varyingf di-Y mensions.

The latch comprises a'springfmetal leaf 70 provided at-A the lower end with a hook-shapedportion 723z`idap-tedY to extend through an aperture 74 inf the portion -53 of*- the iloor plate, andlfov'er-lie the lowersurface` ofV the plateH forwardly of the aperture; The upper end of the leaf The leaf 70 is provided with a flat face 86 along its forwardredge, andapin 83 extending through the guard is adapted` to abut this face andpreVent rotation of the The lower end of the hook portion 72 is beveled forwardly upwardly as at 39 -The` leaf 70 because formed of spring metal, is capable of flexible movement toward and awayfrom the magazine well. It is ilexibly tensioned such that when it is pressed rearwardly by the operatonof the gun and thereafter released, it will` snap forwardly. again. i

It is now apparent that upon rotation ofl the stem 78, the position of the hooked portion 72 below thev lower surface` 63 of the guard may be adjusted. Because the lower surface` of the hook 72 is beveled as at 89, when of aperture'74 will abut the bevel 89 and urge; thehook rearwardly permitting the magazine to be fully seated against the guard in the position shown in Fig. 1.` It will The rivet may be turned through the use of a screw driver: r be notd that the 1eaf-70 With lh@ hOOked end EOFOIY72 Such turning movement is'resisted by gripz-f depends from the irearm` with the hooked portion depending below the iioor plate when the magazine is` received in the-guard. When the magazine is inthe position shown in Fig. 1, the hook will slip forwardly over the forward edge of the aperture 74 to grip the door plate The cam is received, as shown in Figs. la: l

against the surface 63 of the guard and `.hold the receptacley of the magazine in the well; j x

,j It will be noted in Fig. 1 that a space exists between the rear walls39 and 24 of the receptacle and maga-zine i well.` If it were not for the adjustable element 5W the magazine would shift rearwardly with the result that the' front wall ofthe receptacle would be spaced from the frontwall 22 ofthe magazinewell. j Asa result of this. the forward end of the magazine wouldatend to` dropawayt from the lower surface ofthe guard and the floor. plate` would not be held securely in the position showmin` Fig.. 1. My'novel latch means andthecamcooperate; to hold it tensioned securely against `the guard with the` receptacle in place in the Well... Withthe cam rotatedto,

aposition such that the magazine is. urgedto itsV forwardmost position, and with: the hook 72` of the latchlengaged, overr the forwardredge' of the apertureja, the magazine; eannot.shift downwardly eitherat the forward or rear. ward endrthereof. l j

Inorder to release the magazine; from the guard, the operator presses rearwardly against-the hook movingV it toza position. such that it is disposed completely within; aperture 74, whereupon the kick-.out spring'forces the magazine outwardly of the well. A very slightdownvf ward movement of the magazine will carry the door; platee belovuzthe hook. 72, afterwhich the` hook `may be released by the operator and thefmagazine graspedandtcompletelyl extracted from the guard. l

What Itelaim is:

1.` A `magazine assembly4 for a` firearm thaving `a maga-.l zine well comprising, in combination: a box-likereceptaele; closed. at the bottom by a-iioor plate and .removably/Ire ceivablewithimthe magazine wellof therearmyalatch, mounted `on the firearm and depending., therefrom and` adjustable toward andaway from the firearm andf engagea. t able with the floor plate'adjacent one end thereof, to hold,

the receptacle. in the Well, a spring mounted on the iloor plate and tensioned' upwardly `to abut the firearm when thereceptacleisrreceivedinthe well andbiasithe recep#y j tacle outwardly of the well, and an elementmounted'jon" is enlarged and lboredltandfltappedlas11H76' tir-receive-the` l 75 the floor plateA for adjustable movement. longitudinally of., the floor plate and 1 adapted ytoabuta portion of" the re"` arm to position the receptacle in the magazine well against one end wall of the well.

2. A magazine assembly for a firearm having a magazine well comprising, in combination: a box-like receptacle closed at the bottom by a floor plate extending beyond the opposite end walls of the receptacle and adapted to abut the firearm and limit the insertion of the receptacle in the magazine well, a spring secured to the floor plate interiorly of the receptacle and projecting out of the receptacle through a wall thereof and adapted rto abut the firearm, said spring tensioned upwardly away from the fioor plate to bias the receptacle outwardly of the well, and latch means mounted on the firearm with a hookshaped part depending below the firearm and received through an aperture in the floor plate to extend beyond the bottom surface of the plate and be releasably engaged over such surface of the plate to hold the magazine in the well.

3. A removable magazine for a firearm having a magazine well comprising, in combination: a box-like receptacle assembly having front, rear, and opposed side walls, and including a floor plate the marginal edges of which extend beyond the walls around the receptacle with the assembly adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges and be slidably removably received -in the magazine well of the firearm with the marginal edges of the floor plate overlying the firearm adjacent the well; a spring secured to the floor plate with a portion disposed within the receptacle and extending outwardly therefrom and another portion overlying the margin of the floor plate outwardly of the walls of the receptacle to bear against the firearm adjacent the magazine well when the receptacle is received within the well; an inflexible element mounted on the receptacle assembly for adjustable movement forwardly and rearwardly of the assembly to abut a portion of the firearm to position the receptacle assembly in the magazine well with an end wall of the assembly abutting an t end wall of the well; and latching means releasably coupling the receptacle assembly to the firearm at that end of the assembly opposite the end wall thereof abutting the end wall of the magazine well.

4. A removable center-feed magazine for a bolt-action staggered feed firearm having a chamber, a guard, and a downwardly opening magazine well in the guard comprising: a box-like receptacle having front, rear, and opposed side walls, and closed at the bottom by a floor plate the marginal edges of which extend outwardly beyond the walls of the receptacle to overlie the guard adjacent the well when the receptacle is inserted in the well; one of Vsaid marginal edges extending rearwardly beyond the rear wall of the receptacle; a cartridge follower spring in the receptacle; the upper edges of the side walls of the receptacle provided with inwardly extending lips to retain cartridges in the receptacle against the action of said spring and permit successive guided movement of cartridges out of the receptacle in alignment with the chamber ofthe firearm; inflexible adjustable camming means secured to said rearwardly extending marginal edge of the floor plate rearwardly of the receptacle to engage a portion of the guard and position the forward wall of the receptacle against the front wall of the magazine well; and latch means for releasably coupling the rear end of the floor plate to the guard to hold the receptacle in the well.

5. A magazine assembly for a firearm having a magazine well and a downwardly opening recess rearwardly of the well comprising, in combination: a box-like receptacle closed at the bottom by a floor plate having av portion extending beyond an end wall of the receptacle and adapted to close the mouth of the recess in the firearm when the receptacle is received in the magazine well, an element mounted on said portion of the fioor plate for adjustable movement toward and away from the receptacle and receivable within the recess of the firearm to abut a wall of the recess when the receptacle is received in the well and position the receptacle snugly against an end wall of the magazine well, an adjustable latch mounted on the firearm Within the recess and provided with a downwardly extended threaded stem with a hook-shaped part threadedly coupled with said stem with the hook depending below the firearm to be received through an aperture in the floor plate adjacent the element, said hook-shaped part being threadedly adjustable on said stern toward and away from the firearm, said hook-shaped part intermediate its opposite ends being a leaf spring flexibly tensioning the hook toward a position of engagement over an edge of the aperture to releasably hold the receptacle in the magazine well.

6. A magazine assembly for a firearm having a magazine well therein comprising, in combination: a box-like receptacle lclosed at the bottom and removably receivable within the magazine well of the firearm, and a latch mounted on the firearm and depending therefrom and having a part adapted to engage the underside of the receptacle and which part is selectively threadedly adjustable vertically with respect to the underside of the receptacle and resistingly movable longitudinally of the firearm toward and away from the well to engage the underside of the receptacle to hold the same in the well.

7. A magazine assembly for a firearm having a magazine well comprising, in combination: a box-like receptacle closed at the bottom by a fioor plate extending beyond the opposite end walls of the receptacle and adapted to abut the firearm and limit the insertion of the receptacle in the magazine well, a spring secured to the oor plate interiorly of the receptacle and projecting out of the receptacle through a wall thereof and adapted to abut the firearm, said spring tensioned upwardly away from the floor plate to bias the receptacle outwardly of the well, and latch means mounted on the firearm and having a iioor plate engaging part tensioned toward the magazine well opening, said part having a lip portion disposed to underlie the fioor plate when the receptacle is fully seated in the well, and said part having a camming surface cooperable with the floor plate to cam the part out of the path of the fioor plate as the receptacle is inserted in the well and prior to complete seating in the well.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 492,543 Mauser Feb. 28, 1893 808,282 Godsal Dec. 26, 1905 1,056,057 Randall Mar. 18, 1913 1,401,568 Swebilius Dec. 27, 1921 1,462,972 Lewis July 24, 1923 1,552,457 Swebilius Sept. 8, 1925 1,900,818 Jager Mar. 7, 1933 2,372,614 Swebilius Mar. 27, 1945 2,571,132 Harvey Oct. 16, 1951 2,655,753 Salas Oct. 20, 1953 2,657,489 Robertson Nov. 3, 1953 2,659,994 Yale Nov. 24, 1953 2,758,404 Tabor Aug. 14, 1956 

